* 116 [Assembly 



The cost of cutting fifteen acres of wheat in one day is§5.75; which 

 exhibits a saving of $9. 25 in favor of the reaping machine on an 

 area of fifteen acres. 



It must be evident that to accomplish the cutting of these 15 

 acres with cradles, in one day, seven men at least must be em- 

 ployed and as many more to bind the grain into sheaves — ma- 

 king a force of 14 or more men. The machine requires tv/o men 

 to control it, and needs 7 or at most 8 men to rake and bind the 

 grain, and shock the wiiole in the same day, making a further 

 advantage by saving the labor of four men, equal to four dollars. 

 Thus it appears that the Reaping Machine offers a considerable 

 advantage over manual labor, say to the extent of §13.25 on 

 every 15 acres, or 88 J cents per acre. 



The number of acres appropriated to the culture of wheat in 

 this State during the year lS44-'45, according to the State cen- 

 sus, was 1,013,665. The census of the United States for 1850, 

 shows a diminution of the wheat crop in this State ; yet in the 

 absence of sufficient official returns, we may reasonably assume 

 the number of acres of wheat as being equal now, to the area 

 cultivated in 1845. If so, it will be seen that the use of Reaping 

 Machines applied to the whole crop, would effect a saving to the 

 State of about $89,540 dollars per annum. 



These estimates are presented with the intent to draw the at- 

 tention of cultivators to the economy of machinery, and to in- 

 vite every person interested in the inquiry to a more minute in- 

 vestigation for himself. 



DRILLS. 



The practice of sowing and planting seeds in regular rows or 

 drills, has found so many advocates in the United States, as to 

 encourage mechanical ingenuity in the attempt to improve ma- 

 chines derived from English and Scotch cultivators. Until with- 

 in a short period, the Drill Machines have been cumbrous, and 

 uncertain in the performance of the work desired ; hence there 

 use was for a long time confined to sowing the seeds of vegeta- 

 bles, and small areas of corn. Many successful trials with im- 

 proved drills led to the construction of a very good machine by 



